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Fernando Alonso on his way to a
controversial victory in the German Grand
Prix this month. The FIA will now examine
the Scuderia's use of team orders, banned by
the rules, to manipulate the finishing order
in the favour of the Spanish driver on
September 8. |
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On the
day after the Hungarian Grand Prix and following a long
and in-depth debriefing, Ferrari President Luca di
Montezemolo gathered together all the staff of the
Gestione Sportiva in the Logistica pavilion to look at
the current situation as the final third of the season
approaches. Along with Team Principal Stefano Domenicali
and the senior Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro engineers,
Fernando Alonso was also present, having flown back from
Budapest to Maranello last night with the team, as he is
spending a few days working alongside his engineers,
before the final sprint in the World Championship.
Naturally, everyone at the GeS, as the Gestione Sportiva
is known, is very pleased with the way the result of the
last couple of races has reopened the situation in the
two classifications: there was spontaneous applause for
Fernando and also, in absentia for Felipe, who has
already flown back to Brazil to spend the summer break
with his family. However, it is clearly understood that
the work load has to be stepped up even further, and it
needs to be of the highest standard in order to close
the technical gap to the fastest cars, which is
significant, as was demonstrated on Sunday in Budapest.
“It was a very busy July, which ended in a very nice way
for us,” said Montezemolo. “Especially when you look at
where we are today, compared to one month ago. For this,
I wish to thank our entire workforce, because they put
in so much effort to achieve these results. In
Hockenheim, we finished first and second and yesterday
we came away with second and fourth places, which was
the most we could have achieved. The engineers put their
heads down and worked on improving the car and the
drivers did a great job: Fernando got an amazing start
and very nearly managed to take the lead at the first
corner, while Felipe brought home a significant points
haul, in what was a special race for him, one year on
from his accident. It’s true that earlier in the season
we have wasted great opportunities and there is still
regret for some perplexing decisions, but we must look
ahead and believe in the fact that today, we are in the
fight for the Championship. This is the Ferrari I like
to see and the one our fans want to see: a team that can
fight and deliver the results. We must continue like
this and then see where we are at the end. We know we
must work even harder and with determination on the
development of the car, but our people don’t need me to
tell them that.”
Following Ferrari's
controversial use of team orders during the previous
grand prix in Germany and the stewards decision to refer
the matter to the FIA World Motorsports Council for
further consideration, the FIA has announced that the
date of the hearing has been set for September 8. A
press release issued by the FIA in Paris read: "On 25
July 2010, on the occasion of the Grand Prix of Germany
counting towards the 2010 Formula One World
Championship, the Stewards of the meeting, after hearing
the persons concerned, noted an infringement by the
Scuderia Ferrari of: Article 39.1 of the 2010 Sporting
Regulations ("Team orders which interfere with a race
result are prohibited") and Article 151 c) of the
International Sporting Code ("Any of the following
offences (…) shall be deemed to be a breach of these
rules (...) any fraudulent conduct or any act
prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to
the interests of motor sport generally"). In the light
of the information in their possession, the Stewards
decided to impose a fine of $100,000 on the Scuderia
Ferrari and to forward the dossier to the FIA World
Motor Sport Council. On the basis of that decision and
of the inquiry report, and following the receipt of a
report sent by the Stewards to the FIA, the FIA
President has decided, in conformity with the new rules
of disciplinary procedure adopted at his initiative on
11 March 2010, to submit the case to the judging body of
the World Motor Sport Council. The disciplinary hearing
of the World Council will be chaired by the FIA Deputy
President for Sport and will take place in Paris on 8
September 2010."
The next few days will be very busy at Maranello. Up
until Saturday, everyone will be working at a frenetic
pace to prepare the cars for the Belgian Grand Prix. The
cars which raced in Hungary yesterday are already back
at the Gestione Sportiva and are undergoing the usual
rebuild. Sunday sees the start of the compulsory two
week break from all work, with activity resuming on
Monday 23 August, everyone having fully recharged their
batteries to tackle the final rush of a World
Championship which looks like being a very open fight.
ItaliaspeedTV:
Ferrari Chairman Luca di
Montezemolo at the Gestione Sportiva (Italian Language)
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